Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-04-02
A DUEL ON SKATES.

Liar!
The words were uttered coolly, almosl
dispassionataly, but there was world OF
meaning in the tones of the speakers.
1t was in small village in one of ouI
Northern States. Two men, Young, but oil
very different exterior, scowled tierccly al
each other over the green table of gam.
ing establishment.
Matt McGll was 4 true frontiersman,
and, though scarcely twenty one, he had
the reputation of being as cool and daring
scout as ever followed a trail. There
was not an atom of fear in his keen blue
eyes as he looked sternly across the trble
into those of Alabama Abe, the gambler
despite the fact that heavy pisto! in the
hands of the latter was leyeled at his
breast. For a moment they stood thus.
each detiantly regarding the other. Ala
bama Abe was the first to break the silence.
His mOckug voice echoed down the nearly
empty room and caused thrill to run
through the he rlS of the group of specta-
tors ansioGsly awaiting the outcome of the
quarrel.
"Ah! hav e drop on YOU Matt Nc
GilI,' he cried CHultantly, while his lips
parted IN a Triumphant smile.
For the present. yes 1t will not always
be SOL" and the steely glance of the scout
seemed to pierce to the gamblers heart.
NO? You are too sanguine, my border
friend. What reason can You give why |
should not shoot you dead where you
stand?"
"a very potent oue-honor. Rascal as
you are, Alabama Abe, You will not COM
init downright murder, though capable of
one, no doubt
The gambler lowered the weapon.
You are right, he said. If | xii you
it will be on the field of honor. But, re-
member, we meet again!"
AT your pleasure. And when that time
arrives you, and not /, will bite the dust"
AS he spoke the young borderer moved
toward the door. Alabama Abe followed
and the two passed out into the wintry air,
leaving their companions to speculate as 10
the outcome of the quarrel.
The cause was a woman, of course
Both loved and wooed Marie Fontaine,
dark eyed Canadian girl, and each with APP
parently the same degree of success. Ri
walls from the first, the breach had rapidly
widened into intense hatred. and had led at
last into the formal declaration of host!i-
ties recorded above. Now, nothing but an
"atfair of honor" could be the result, and
the contest babe fair to be desperate
one.
McGill as the challenged party, had The
choice of weapons, and soon the affair was
satisfactorily arranged. The meeting was
to take place on the surface of little lake
near at hand, and the weapons were to be
Colts revolvers. Each party was to skate
rapidly toward his opponent, and fire as
they passed, until one or both were dis
abled.
McGilPs second hoped by this singular
arrangement to take advantage of the
Southern gambler, little knowing that Ala
4
enough to learn the art OF skating almost to
perfection; therefore considerable surprise
was created among the throng of spectators
gathered upon the lake shore, on the
morning of the duel, to see the gambler
come Swimming over the ice like bird. He
came up TO the crowd with long, swinging
strides, and found his rival already al
hand.
Are You ready" he asked.
Quite ready" was McGiIls cool an
swer.
The distance was quickly measured off
and marked by posts set firmly i'll the ice.
The men took their respective positions,
and waited for the ia eful signal
1t was soon given by pistol shot, fired
by one of the seconds. The antagonists
darted forward like rockets. As they
passed, two sharp reports broke the silence,
Imply to his side, while thin stream of
blood trickled down the sleeve OF his jncket.
He quickly changed his revolver to his left
hand, and turned upon his enemy, who
was again advancing. Rapidly they dashed
forward, the silence only broken by the
ringing of their skates. They circled
about each other for moment, firing rap
idly
The crowd, which numbered the entire
population of the village were eagerly
watching the sanguinary contest. Who
will be the victor? was the uuexpressed
thought of each mind.
1t was soon decided. Gradually narrow
ing the circles, until the muzzles of their
Colts navies almost touched, the men
emptied chamber after chamber of their
weapons with deadly results. Matt Nc
ellis fringed buckskin and Alabama Abe's
gay Mexican costume were covered with
CORY stains. Still, with flashing eyes, they
sped onward in the madlening whirl, each
heart burning with revenge, and neither
yielding.
Alabama Abe had dropped his empty re-
volver and drawn a long bowie, whose
bright blade cleaned in the sunlight But
he was destined never to use it, for as the
echo of McGills last shot died on the air
the gambler fell pro trate upon the ice, and
the exhausted scout dropped back INTO the
arms of his second.
The crowd thronged forward. Tie scouts
last bullet had indeed gone home, and Ala
bama Abe lay limp in death. All this and
more Matt McGil saw, for woman with
disheveled hair and pallid face was bend
ing over the dead gambler, kissing the pale
features, cruel in their outlines even in
death, and showering endearing words npon
the lifeless form. 1t was Marie, the Cana
dian girl.
The scouts face grew ashy pale at the
sight. A stern resolve glanced in his eye,
and, breaking from the grasp of his friends.
he dashed swiftly and silently away oven
the ice. Fifty rods down the lake patch
of open water danced in the winter wind
between its icy letters. In a moment he
had reached it. For an instant they saw
him pause on the verge of the air hole, the
fragile ice breaking beneath his feet. Then
he disappeared. and Matt McGill, the
scout, was never seen again.